Then there are the wonderful delights that are unique to the city: ice skating in Central Park and the city’s most famous lady, the Statue of Liberty, glistening in the morning dew. The holiday spirit permeates every nook and cranny of the city. Hundreds of Santas can be seen with bell a-ringing on the streets and in stores, while elves work diligently at retail chains like Barnes and Noble. Even the suited legal eagles can be caught with tinsel in-hand. There's no other city in the world that captures the childish delights and holiday traditions of winter quite like the Big Apple.

Ok, not everyone loves this vibrant city, but those who love New York, love it with an intensity that borders on obsession. During my many visits to the “The City that Never Sleeps”, I found it to be a remarkable mishmash of historic places, world-class theatres, over-the-top landmarks, posh hotels and absolutely incredible restaurants. I too became enraptured by the charm of this one-of-a-kind metropolis.

Winter is a great time to visit New York City. Despite the frigid winter weather, the city offers a variety of seasonal activities that can only be enjoyed as the weather gets colder. At first it may not seem like the most obvious time of year to visit New York, but wintertime holds a host of wonderful treats.

During the winter months, especially during the Christmas season, Rockefeller Center is a hub of activity. The famed plaza is home to the most prominent Christmas tree imaginable, which is ornamented with an incredible 30,000 golden lights. The plaza is further decorated each winter with an army of beautiful trumpet-blowing angelic figures. The quintessential experience at Rockefeller Center is a spin on its renowned sunken ice rink. Here you can skate under the watchful eye of the statue of Prometheus and the twinkling Christmas lights that encircle the rink.

Central Park offers two skating rinks that are well worth visiting as they are less crowded than Rockefeller Center but you still have the opportunity to skate under the starry Manhattan skyline. The park is a winter wonderland as it is blanketed in snow and the trees are adorned with shimmering icicles.

A sleigh ride through the park is a real treat, especially if you are with that special someone. You can almost hear Bingo Crosby’s White Christmas echoing in the background as the horse passes towering trees encased in ice and great drifts of snow banked up on every side.

When old Jack Frost begins to nip at your nose, you can head indoors for a visit to Radio City Music Hall for their annual Christmas Spectacular. For almost 75 years, Radio City has showcased the talents of the scantily-clad Rockettes along with prancing reindeer and wooden soldiers. For a more refined theatre experience, The Nut Cracker Suite at the New York Ballet is another ‘must-see’ seasonal event.

New York has too many attractions to see in one visit. So, it isn’t complicated in the least to find that perfect spot to relieve the winter chill. In Greenwich Village for example, a piano bar with a blazing fire and a warm atmosphere may very well do the trick. Carrie Bradshaw and the girls from Sex in the City gave millions of viewers a glimpse at all of the hot-spots available in Manhattan. Fans of the iconic HBO show can actually take a Sex in the City tour and visit all of the clubs and neighbourhoods that have been made famous by the fab-four.

A visit to New York is not complete without shopping on the famed Fifth Avenue. The vibrancy of the area is heightened by chic illuminations and Christmas decorations, including the giant snowflake on the corner of 57th Street. Of course, the main cause of wonderment on Fifth Avenue comes from the windows of famous department stores.

Top venues like Saks and Bendel’s created a whole new meaning of the concept of window-shopping with their jaw-dropping annual displays. The frosty windows of Tiffany’s showcase another type of ice, as they drip with dazzling diamonds, sparkling gems and that one-of-a-kind elegance that is Tiffany & Co. Indeed, many of these windows have become Christmas attractions in themselves, complete with fairytale backdrops, chugging toy trains, marching wooden soldiers and animated soft toys and puppets.

Macy’s Department store, the backdrop of the classic film Miracle of 34th Street, is undeniably one of the most visited shopping havens in New York. Macy’s can always be relied upon to have one of the most stunning window displays in the city. The legendary toy store F.A.O. Schwartz, is also a place that should not be missed—even if you don't have children.

The magnificent hotels in the city also chime in on the beauty of winter. Luxurious accommodations like the Millenium Hilton Hotel, the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel and the ultra-elegant Ritz Carlton New York Central Park Hotel—each attempt to out-do the others with elaborate and stunning decorations in their lobbies and entrances.

A trip to the world-famous Bronx Zoo gives the young and young at heart an opportunity to see over a hundred illuminated animal sculptures and eight miles of tree lighting. The Botanical Gardens offers a breathtaking exhibition of lights and toy trains that wind past remarkable replicas of famous New York landmarks.

Times Square is one of the most crowded tourist places in New York. The streets that surround Times Square are home to most of the Broadway theatres. Somehow, the winter months seems to soften the frantic pace of the square just a bit as the snow magically muffles the city’s noise into a surreal silence. The Theatre District in Times Square is also well-known for its bright neon signs and for being the centre of attention each New Year’s Eve as revellers watch the ball drop at the stroke of midnight and party until dawn.

The weather outside may be frightful, but winter in New York is truly delightful! There is no place in America that captures the seasonal spirit quite like New York, and no better place to head if you're "dreaming of a white Christmas".